Feedback on dwarves requested?

[naosu]

Thanks. So on my story I posted a poll on this topic to get feedback on it. (Feel free to look at that and comment!). The topic is about dwarves and dwarf girls and how to use them in a story as a fantasy race? OR how to use them with harem fantasy stories? Is this possible?

First, there's a few issues with dwarves. One is, people portray them as fat short people. There's no appeal in that. So I want to get feedback on that? Should main character protagonist and harem leader not be a dwarf then as ideal?

Also the other issue is, in stories where they do make dwarf girls appealing, they do so by writing them as loli-con like races with elf ears. TO BE CLEAR, I HAVE NOT DONE THIS. But its common in like Japanese stories and manga to make dwarf girls look like elf eared loli-cons. Many have already published it like this. But is that legal? Can it get someone in trouble writing them that way?

I need input on this. Because I'm not really sure about this I've held back using 'small people races' in stories. I need to feel like I have some safe area to navigate before I can use them. This means a lot of races being unused, not just dwarves.

Also in exchange, if you post me feedback on this I'm perfectly HAPPY to also RESPOND to your feedback questions here in return.

Thank you.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Look up "dwarves" in mythology (and ignore the genetic term "dwarfism"): they are always muscular, usually dark complected, and stocky.
However... Norse dwarves were 9 to 12 feet tall (shorter than the smallest of the Jotun, the giants, but larger than humans by a good deal and slightly larger than most of the Aesir and Vanir). I have seen very few sources with actually FAT dwarves, but they are described as "stocky" - which means they have a heavy build, with torsos generally broader and thicker than their waists.
Every reference I've found has male dwarves valuing their facial hair greatly, and most have them with very ornate beards. Some sources have universally bearded female dwarves (early versions of D&D, and the Diskworld being the most notable), but that is absent in most of the more modern takes - though some sources (even back to mythology) have dwarves as non-sexual creatures, formed out of living clay, originally by divine power directly, later through special rituals to keep the race alive.
[My pet theory is that all dwarves grow facial hair quickly - but pregnant females lose their facial hair until after they give birth; other races can't tell the difference on sight except in the rare instances they encounter a pregnant female dwarf...]

So it really is up to you, as the writer, as to:
1. The true stature of dwarves - are they short, stocky creatures roughly the same body mass as an adult human? Are they smaller than that (more akin to gnomes of folklore, perhaps)? Are they towering giants with broad shoulders? Are they varied in body shape as much as humans or do they all follow a "basic template"?
2. How many genders do they have and how do they present? How much of their presentation is a matter of choice, and how much a matter of pride? How does the number of genders shape their society?
3. Are they a race of master craftsmen and expert warriors, or are they varied as much as humans and it's just that the exceptional artisans and combatants are all the outside world ever sees?
4. What kind of coloration do they have (personally, I favor them resembling the terrain they live in - gray, black or brown hair and dark complexions, but that's just me)?

 

[N3fari0n]

The stereotypes of Dwarves are as follows.

1. They usually have lesser height and more muscle mass than normal humans.
2. They are usually hairy and like to flaunt their beards or mustaches. Sometimes, even females have beards.
3. In fantasy tropes, they are usually portrayed as blacksmiths or frontier tanks.

That being said, you can definitely weave a story having a dwarve MC. You can portray them as genius blacksmiths who can craft legendary equipment or a front-line tank with full-counter ability, making them do more damage than anyone. In the case of harems, usually they contain females from various races. So, I don't think you need to limit yourself to a single race.

If you are concerned about the height, you can give them some evolution tropes where they evolve from Dwarves to something better.

Just my two cents...

 

[TheIcMan]

Thanks. So on my story I posted a poll on this topic to get feedback on it. (Feel free to look at that and comment!). The topic is about dwarves and dwarf girls and how to use them in a story as a fantasy race? OR how to use them with harem fantasy stories? Is this possible?

First, there's a few issues with dwarves. One is, people portray them as fat short people. There's no appeal in that. So I want to get feedback on that? Should main character protagonist and harem leader not be a dwarf then as ideal?

Also the other issue is, in stories where they do make dwarf girls appealing, they do so by writing them as loli-con like races with elf ears. TO BE CLEAR, I HAVE NOT DONE THIS. But its common in like Japanese stories and manga to make dwarf girls look like elf eared loli-cons. Many have already published it like this. But is that legal? Can it get someone in trouble writing them that way?

I need input on this. Because I'm not really sure about this I've held back using 'small people races' in stories. I need to feel like I have some safe area to navigate before I can use them. This means a lot of races being unused, not just dwarves.

Also in exchange, if you post me feedback on this I'm perfectly HAPPY to also RESPOND to your feedback questions here in return.

Thank you.

Or just do a Shinju no Nectar and make the women just look like average humans lmao

 

[naosu]

The stereotypes of Dwarves are as follows.

1. They usually have lesser height and more muscle mass than normal humans.
2. They are usually hairy and like to flaunt their beards or mustaches. Sometimes, even females have beards.
3. In fantasy tropes, they are usually portrayed as blacksmiths or frontier tanks.

That being said, you can definitely weave a story having a dwarve MC. You can portray them as genius blacksmiths who can craft legendary equipment or a front-line tank with full-counter ability, making them do more damage than anyone. In the case of harems, usually they contain females from various races. So, I don't think you need to limit yourself to a single race.

If you are concerned about the height, you can give them some evolution tropes where they evolve from Dwarves to something better.

Just my two cents...

Thank you for commenting!

Your bullet points are accurate. I guess I want to follow up with; OK, but how do I change them enough that they would be appealing in a story or harem story enough that people are as excited about dwarf girls as they are about say elves or vampire girls? (This is my fault for not originally saying it better like this.)

And what about Loli-cons? I'm worried about if its actually legal or not? Or if it can get you in trouble?

 

[HouseDelarouxScribbles]

Naosu, you are conflating two different conceptions of dwarf girls here. There's the western conception which has its roots in high fantasy, but girly (already uncommon!), then there's the petite 'elf' in anime. Dwarfs do not exist in anime for most part, you are thinking elves like Frieren who have slim frames compared to the bulky muscular goblinish/orcish build of western fantasy.

Why not just make up a new race at that point? Call it 'Westborough Elves' or something and add traits that fit your storyline to it. WCIII literally did that with Night Elves, and today dark skinned elves are quite standard in fantasy with very strong and predefined traits.

 

[naosu]

Naosu, you are conflating two different conceptions of dwarf girls here. There's the western conception which has its roots in high fantasy, but girly (already uncommon!), then there's the petite 'elf' in anime. Dwarfs do not exist in anime for most part, you are thinking elves like Frieren who have slim frames compared to the bulky muscular goblinish/orcish build of western fantasy.

Why not just make up a new race at that point? Call it 'Westborough Elves' or something and add traits that fit your storyline to it. WCIII literally did that with Night Elves, and today dark skinned elves are quite standard in fantasy with very strong and predefined traits.

Thank you very much. I like your suggestion. I'll try to do some calculations and see what I come up with.

Sincerely grateful for feedback from all of you.